Library

It's been two days since my encounter with Annette inside the dream. In there, I made a promise to protect her family, which now become mine, and somehow learned a lot of things from her memories.

As for in reality, while I'm fully healed, Mom and Nee-san forced me to take a rest in those two days.

The first day after my reincarnation, Mom called those who tried to heal Annette in my dream before for medical check-up, like the priestess, the shaman, or the alchemist. The shaman is a male lizard beastkin, or I like to call them lizardman, while the alchemist is a female cat beastkin.

The priestess and the shaman examine my body using magic to make sure what I said is true. They were surprised that I'm fully cured from that disease, but the shaman gave Mom and Nee-san a cryptic answer. He said that my body has been supported.

I think... he was aware that I'm a different person soul-wise. I'll ask mother for the location of his workplace soon.

As for the alchemist, she just gave me a bottle of green liquid. When I taste it, it tasted like an energy drink, but very bitter. Of course I gulped it all since I don't want them to worry about me.

After the check-up, Nee-san kept her promise to tell me more about this world for those two days, like the month in this world using the old Japanese calendar, decided by the Otherworldly Sages of course. As of now, it's Fumizuki, or July in modern calendar.

She even told me that the continent name in Kingdom of Olfheim and many other kingdom or city in this continent using the name of the first hero, Orfe. And yes, Tower of Orfe located at the center of the continent.

Mom also came and told me about six basic elements of magic in this world since I've been interested in it after seeing the priestess and the shaman perform it. Those six were fire, water, earth, wind, light, and dark. A new elements able to be created by combining two or more different basic elements.

I wrote everything what Nee-san and Mom said to me, including the memories I've got from Annette before I forget into my notebook.

After fully recovered, from Mom's perspective, I started my true new life in another world. But first, I changed my nightgown with a simple short sleeves blue dress.

I didn't tie my hair in twintails like how the real Annette styled her hair and just keep it straight. As for her ribbons she used to tie her hair, I put it inside the drawer near my bed and gave it a silent prayer to its former wearer.

"Annette, it's breakfast time!"

I heard Mom called me for breakfast.

"Coming!"

I replied her call and walked to the first floor. The first floor used for bakery while the second floor for personal rooms for each persons.

When I came to the first floor, I saw Mom and Nee-san already seated, waiting for me. Mom's wore a magenta dress while Nee-san wore a brown dress. I can see Nee-san wanted to say something to me, maybe about my looks, but she choose to refrain for now. As I took my seat, Mom and Nee-san said some sort of prayers.

"May gods and goddess of Excelia bless our food."

It might be the same term of thanking for the food, so I followed suit. The food we ate were bread and stew, and it's delicious. While all of the food I made in my previous world is delicious, but in my opinion, it always felt... missing, unlike now.

After we ate our breakfast, Nee-san decided to break the silence, while Mom cleaned up our plates.

"Annette, why is your hair not in twintails?"

"Um... trying for new get-up."

My answer made her quiet for a while. Maybe she realized that I'm not her sister, but I was wrong because she hugged me in gleeful expression which made me surprised.

"Straight hair Annette is also cute!"

While she said that, she rubbed her cheeks with mine. I'll admit it, she's a siscon, but what's with the pause before? I even heard Mom giggling too, maybe from Nee-san antics.

"While it's good to be so affectionate with your little sister, but Nia-chan, don't hug Annette so strongly. She's just recovered from her illness."

"S-Sorry, mother. It just... she's so irresistible."

"I know what you mean, Nia-chan."

I think... I just learned Mom's other side I never knew, even from the dream.

Then, me and Nee-san helped Mom prepare to open the store, like cleaning the tables, windows, or restocking the flours and jams while she baked new fresh batches. Mom's store is not only just selling breads and cakes, but also stew and coffee too.

The first thing when I heard about coffee is to try it. They didn't seem surprised at all at first, maybe because they knew what Annette's preferences in coffee. But when I ask for a plain black coffee, now they were surprised.

I'm already used to drink a coffee in my past life, so I'm sure it's not bitter at all... but I was wrong.

"So bitter~"

"That's why you should add a lot of cream like usual. But thanks for the feast!"

It's very bitter, but I still gulped it until empty. Maybe Annette is not used to drink a black coffee. Still, wasting food is a complete no for me. And Nee-san said some disturbing words after reprimand me.

After we helped Mom to prepare the store, Nee-san returned back to her rooms. When she came down, she brought an unsheathed knife.

"Mother, I'm going to the adventurer guild."

"Sure. Be careful."

Adventurer guild? I guess it's for her job as a dismantler. I can't let this chance slip.

"Mom, can I join Nee-san? I want to go somewhere."

xxxxx

We entered to the place where I want to go. Inside of it, there're a lot of books sorted by categories. The perfect place for me to gather more informations about this world.

That's right. The place I wanted to go is the library, located near the noble district, but far from the feudal lord mansion. Good thing I brought my notebook and pen with me.

When I ask Mom that I want to go to the library, she was surprised. She was expecting me to go to the cat cafe once per week like usual, even Nee-san too. I also heard Mom's muttered about my strange behaviour.

"That's unusual. Since when Annette interested in reading books other than storybooks?"

If I want to answer Mom's question, since three days ago because I have no clue about this world. But I'm going to the cat cafe soon to reduce their doubt about me.

While thinking which category of books I should read first, Nee-san called me.

"Annette, I'm going to the adventurer guild for work. Here's some money to create your identity card."

She gave me a pouch, filled with few coins. As clueless as I am, I ask her about that.

"'Identity card'?"

"A card to show its owner identity. It's very useful and has a lot of benefits, like to enter another country or city, even to have access in public area like the library. You can even use it to register in any guild. Also, cannot be faked."

Then she showed me her identity card. It's a thin white tablet with the size is almost the same as the smartphones in my previous world. I can see her name written as Nia Mana, but if I squinted my eyes, I can see the small bracket with blurred words after her name.

I know what's written in there thanks to Annette's memories, but it's not the time to expose Nee-san's true identity.

"So many useful things from that simple tablet."

"I know, right. But you have to pay the fees to enter another country or city if you don't have this. Also as a prevention if you are a wanted criminal or have a criminal record."

I see, just like in fantasy light novels I read in my previous world. But there's something amiss.

"Nee-san, why not make the identity card in the adventurer guild?"

When I asked her that, she looked around at our surrounding. After she assume it was clear, she whispered to my ear in serious tone.

"The truth is, I hate some adventurers in there. They always act arrogant and think they're stronger than everyone and owned the guild. I've seen new adventurers tried to register, but challenged and defeated by their 'seniors'. And in turn, traumatized them."

Corrupted society, common troupe of fantasy world.

"I see, adventurer guilds are bad."

"Not all of them are bad, Annette. Most of them have their reasons for that. Some because they're worried for the newbies risking their lives, while the others... for amusement."

Maybe I can let it slip for the first part, but for the others... unforgivable.

Then Nee-san tapped my shoulders from my trance while smiling.

"Now, go to the librarian and ask to make an identity card. Then, be a good girl and study hard. I'll pick you up after my work shift done."

I nodded at her remark while Nee-san smiled even wider. Then she walked outside to her workplace, leaving me alone. Not really alone since there're a lot of visitors in here.

Following what Nee-san said, I walked to the woman in the receptionist desk reading a book with no expression, which I assume as the librarian. She has shoulder length purple hair with the same eye colours. As for her clothes, she's like a witch, complete with a pointy hat.

Sensing my presence, she glanced at me with the same expression.

"Yes?"

"Um... visiting the library... and study."

With that kind of expression and tone, she's quite... intimidating, giving her a cool beauty aura. For the first time after getting used by that woman (aunt) abuse, I was slightly scared.

"Identity card?"

"Um... create new one."

Still intimidated, I gave her the pouch of money to her. She counted the total money in it and nodded. Then she gave me an empty white plate and the pouch with the remaining money left.

"Press it with your thumb."

My thumb? Is it some sort of thumb-print scanner?

Whatever, I just followed what she instructed. Then, it glowed for a while. After the glow died, I can see what's written on it.

First is my name, it's Annette Mana. Then age is 6 years, and gender is female. I also can see the affiliations is empty, maybe for if wanted to join the guilds, like adventurer guilds.

I can't fake my name or masquerading as a male as long as I have this ID or creating a new one with different name or gender. Maybe it has some sort of... thumb-print identification, I guess.

"Swipe. Finger."

I heard the librarian said about swipe. I don't know what she means by that, but I think it has something to do with the ID's.

I swipe my ID like how I use a smartphone. I was surprised that the texts is changed to achievement, and of course it's empty. So I swipe it back.

It's really interesting, combining fantasy with a little bit of sci-fi. But if I found out that it was created by the Otherworldly Sages, I'll take my words back.

"Identity card?"

I glanced at her hand gesture when she said that. She wanted me to give her my ID. While she seems quite rude, but I'll just comply and gave her my newly made ID.

After I gave her my ID, she wrote my name from the ID to the opened book on her side, which I assume as a guest book. Then she returned my ID back to me.

"Enjoy."

"Um... thanks."

Then she returned back to read her book after that while I wander to find the book I want to read first.

I admit the library is very vast, and so many books I wanted to read. But good things it has been categorized, like history, magic, combat skills, geograpy, and many more. Even they have the books about cats and how to raise it.

I don't know why but there's a great urge for me to learn about cats. I guess it's from Annette's lingering feelings since she's never have a pet, according to her memories. I mean, literal cats.

Then, I found the book that caught my interest from history category.

Otherworldly Sages: Rise and Demise.

I took the book from the shelf and sat at the nearest table. Maybe I'll find the answers of it.

I read thoroughly on the first chapter of the book. After that I couldn't help but laugh quietly but sarcastically. Why? Because not only it's written in Japanese, but also it has the same plot as the isekai light novels I read in my previous life.

It's said that the gods and goddesses of Excelia sent their strongest champions from another realm to guide their beloved followers thousand years ago. Those champions introduced a lot of advanced knowledge from their realm to help them have a better life. Thanks to them, their lives has become more prosperous and easier, even the language barrier between races has been solved by using the champions mother language. That era known as the golden era.

Well, as much as I want to read it, I need to find the answer for their demise. So I skip a lot of chapter and read the last chapter, which called 'Demise'. Still, I need to write every important information to my almost full notebook, mostly about the memories given from Annette.

I don't know how I got this memories because the girl I've seen is still six-year-old, and yet too mature for her age, even what she said in there is also weird. I mean, how did she knew one of the main girl, Ariadne, in the dating simulator game I showed to her and felt nostalgic? But those answers are revealed from her memories.

Simply put, she entrusted not just one, but sixteen future memories of herself with different occupations to me, someone from another world. And in one of those memories, she's become Ariadne's personal and combat maid, with a knife as her main weapon. That's her reason of how she felt nostalgic.

Enough reminiscing, time to read the book again.

It said that the champions, now known as the Otherworldly Sages, called upon their people by the summoning ritual they made to accomplish the trial and become part of them. Using lies and deceptions, they easily swayed for the achievement and power, but they didn't realize that they're nothing but pawns for their sick game of killing and world domination. And what's even worse, is that the Otherworldly Sages and their people don't have level limits, have a fast level growth and greater stats, and unique skills. All of it with the risk of corrupting their minds, which slowly turned them into a new entity.

I don't know what it means by 'new entity', but now I know why that world used to be under fear of Otherworldly Sages, because they might be think that that world was for them and they're free to do whatever they want. And if there's someone who tried to oppose them, they will either show them the differences of their powers or beat them.

As a fellow Japanese people, well... formerly, I couldn't help but annoyed and ashamed for their actions. If someone summoned to this world with that corrupted way of thinking, or if some of the Otherworldly Sages still alive and hiding somewhere... should I kill them?

No, no, no, no, I can't do that! And where's that thought coming from?! If I fight them, it'll be an instant kill for me.

I threw away that thought and continue reading.

The Otherworldly Sages continues to call the champions from their realm using the summoning ritual for their goals and amusement, even the countries whose loyal to them helping summoning them for their benefits.

Simply put, they're the ones responsible for distributing the summoning ritual. Since my classmates from my past life have gone mysteriously, hopefully they don't get involved with the summoning.

Well, resuming to what I read, everything is still the same, until eight hundred years since the Otherworldly Sages came to Excelia, they started to felt worry and fear for the first time. The reason for that because one of the champions they summoned was the one who caused their demise.

Nobody knew who's that person name, but it was a girl. She has a unique skill which able to turn everything into pure white with the pristine white knife she creates from her skill. With that power, the Otherworldly Sages which level is more than one thousand is helpless against that girl and started the massacre against them, even her own people also became the victim of her massacre.

As their numbers started to dwindling, they realize that it was their punishment from the gods and goddesses of Excelia. They fought very hard against her, but their attacks didn't graze her at all, like it has been nullified. Only one Otherworldly Sages she spared from the massacre. It was a girl named Sumeragi Shion, but she cuts her powers except telepathy, functions of her limbs, speech, and emotions with her knife, leaving her inside the house in the floating island.

At that moment, the girl declared that summoning the champion from another realm as a taboo act, and those who did it, must be executed, including the summoned ones she dubbed as 'the otherworlder'. Because of her acts, she was feared by everyone in Excelia, also admired too. She was known as 'The White Devil' thanks to her unique skill which is also a pinnacle of light magic and its branches, White Arts.

Even if it's a taboo act, I'm sure those countries who supported the Otherworldly Sages still calling them, for their own benefits. But still, 'The White Devil'... is she 'The White Girl' Annette mentioned to me?

And this book described how they got massacred by one girl. Isn't it too absurd? I mean, they're very OP and yet they're nothing compared to her thanks to her unique skill, 'White Arts'. She reminds me of the protagonist of the light novel I read, who can kill someone with simple thought no matter how OP they are. Just thinking about her made me have a cold feet.

Well, this is a history book, I'm sure some parts might be exaggerated or twisted for their consumers taste. Maybe Nee-san already knew but omitted to tell me this part.

As I wrote every important part to my notebook, it's finally reached the last page. I guess I need a new notebook now, hopefully Mom gave me another. Well, time to read those books about cats until Nee-san came.

xxxxx

I don't know what time is it now, but I assume it's past noon. Nee-san already done with her job and came to pick me up from the library.

I didn't borrow any book from the library, but only my notebook and pen. Reading the book about the Otherworldly Sages gave me another question, while some has been answered. Because of how stressful thinking about it, I read a book about the things Annette likes after that, cats.

While we walked back to our house in, Nee-san decided to break the silence.

"Annette, why are you so quiet? It's very unusual for you."

Right, I forgot that Annette used to be a bubbly and cheerful girl. But I can't imitate her personality. I'll try it tomorrow.

"Thinking about what I read."

"Really, what is it?"

"Cats."

I can't tell her that I read the book about the Otherworldly Sages just to find the answer about their demise.

"R-Right, Onee-chan forgot that you like cats."

She nervously laughed at her forgetfulness while scratched her head. Then she ask me about the book I read.

"So, how was it like? The cats I mean."

"Cutest."

Annette was right, cats are the cutest in the world.

"No matter how different you are, Annette will always be Annette."

Then I felt Nee-san patted my head. When I glanced at her, she was smiling brightly like usual.

"Let's go, Annette. Mother is waiting."

I only nodded at her remark while we holding hands, Nee-san with left hand while me with right hand. I can feel Nee-san tightly gripped my hand, like she doesn't want to leave me.

It might be selfish, but I want to enjoy this second chance of life. And maybe, finding my own way of life.

Until...

"Little girl with chestnut colored hair."

I snapped from my thought when someone mentioned my hair. From the voice, I assume she was a woman in early twenty.

When I glanced at the person, she was covered in brown coat, from the bottom to head, but I can see the long teal strands of her hair. The hood of her coat also covered her eyes, which makes me hard to read her expressions.

Then, she moved her right arm and pointed at me. What she said next made me shocked.

"Soon, you're going to lose your right arm, along with the girl next to you."

I'm... going to lose my right arm? And Nee-san too?

"Don't spout nonsense to my little sister, you freak!"

The woman fled after Nee-san screamed at her. Even if I heard everyone near us whispering about my encounter or Nee-san called my name, my mind still repeating what she said.

I snapped from my thought when Nee-san suddenly hug me. Then she stroke my hair to calm my mind from the fear.

"Don't worry, Annette. We'll be fine. I promise. Nothing is gonna happen to you like before."

"Y-Yeah."

After Nee-san released the hug, she held my right hand and walked back to home. Even with her eyes covered with her bangs, I can feel her panicking and fear from her trembling hand.

I hope what Nee-san said is true. Nothing is gonna happen to me. But still, who is that woman?